Mount Pleasant, Bournemouth

[JandP]

Just found this site on the net, has anybody been there? What did you think of it? We are told it is good for our dogs (only taking 2 of them!) as there are lots of good walks in the area. Also are there any dog friendly beaches in the near by?

Thanks, Jim.

 

[rayc]

Jim and Pauline, the site is good but I havn't stayed there in prime season as I live local. It is located at Hurn which is close to the airport and is closer to Christchurch than Bournemouth. The whole area around Matchams Lane where the site is located is a forest so you can walk for miles through the tracks.

As far as beaches for dogs they are banned from most of the Bournemouth & Poole beaches in the Summer. Check www.bournemouth.gov.uk and select Visitors - Seafront attractions - beach regulations - dogs . There are many beaches not far away where dogs are allowed e.g Hengistbury Head and beaches toward Lymington and of course the New Forest is on the goor step.

 

[JandP]

Thanks for your comments Ray, the other site we are considering is the Forestry Commission site at Holmsley which I think is not far from Mount Pleasant. Are there any other sites in the area you would recommend? Jim.

 

[rayc]

Jim, I admit to being biased towards those parts of Dorset that are to the west of Poole. I do not have a dog so am a bit reluctant to advise too many sites as not sure how dog friendly they are. Wareham Forest is good if forest walks with the dogs are your thing and there are sites of all different types on the Purbecks. The CC club site at Crossways and the adjacent C&CC site at Moreton Glade are both good. If a small site is your thing then Church Farm Pucknowle (Punnel to the locals) would fit the bill with country walks and a stroll to a small beach which is part of Chessil Bank.

Further west the adult only site Binghams Farm near Bridport has extensive dog walks.

I think that there is no problem taking dogs to beaches such as Kimmeridge and Lulworth Cove, they are stones not sand.

If you are interested in any particular site then don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Jimbob1]

Hi Jim and Pauline,

I think maybe if you could just go and have a look at Mount Pleasant first before booking,we had a look at the site in April,at one end of the site there,s a very busy road and also you get aircraft going into Bournemouth Airport overhead.The layout of the site well!!!!!!Jim.

 

[354]

We used this site a lot in the past, the road doesnt generate to much moise and the airport had no night flights, however havent used the site for some time now. We preffer the Forestry commision site at Setthorns,.

 

[CliveV]

Never camped there as we live nearby. Agree with Ray re the West of Poole - stunning! - do go to Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge Bay, Lulworth Cove, Studland Bay. And if you like trains there is a steam train from Corfe (just north of Corfe Castle) to Swanage.

There is Monkey World (as seen on TV) as well as Bovington Tank Museum also nearby. Both are excellent places to visit be it wet or sunny weather.

As regards a site so close to suburban Bournemouth and the Airport, - it sounds ok but would not be my first choice. Have a look at some of the sites in and around the New Forest, most of which are good and the New Forest is great (but I am biased!) - if you want to be close to Bournemouth.

 

[AndrewWimborne]

hi. I live in Wimborne and know this area well. You will suffer from road and aircraft noise at Mount Pleasant. The airport is now a busy airport since Ryanair and Thomson fly moved in. You have the main road into Bournemouth on one side and Matchams lane on the other, this lane gets busy. If you dont mind noise then go for it. Personally I agree with the other comments regarding the Dorset sites. I have a dog and he loves the sites near Wareham in the forest. I like Hunters Moon which has a small work on site but limitless walks out of the back of the site.

 

[JandP]

Thanks for all your replies, they are very helpful. I think we will give Mount Pleasant a miss. It looks good on the website but I got a bit suspicious when I saw, on the map, how close it is to the airport. I agree with your comments about western Dorset, we know it well, especially Swanage, and have our own favourit site there (if you know Kevin and his mum you will understand why we like it ) but we were looking for somewhere a bit different and closer to home. The Forestry commission sites look good so we may try one of them, or the CC site (Black Knowl I think its called) near Brockenhurst. Thanks again for all the very useful replies. Jim.